by T. R. Ragan
Monday, February 22, 2010 2:49 PM
Jared followed Lizzy up the stairs to her apartment. He went inside first, checking the place thoroughly before telling her it was clear. After leaving Jimmy and his men to take care of the bloodied digit, Lizzy and Jared had taken Linda to the emergency room where the doctor determined that Linda Gates had experienced a severe panic attack.
No sooner had Jared made Lizzy comfortable on the couch when his phone rang. Minutes later he hung up the phone and told Lizzy he needed to leave for an hour or two. “Do you want me to make you some tea before I go?”
“I’m fine. What was that about?”
“We’ve got a couple of leads. A Dan and Rene Winters in Citrus Heights called in today. They recognized the man in the sketch. They believe he’s the same boy who stalked their daughter back in high school. Her name was Shannon Winters. Shannon died after choking on a jawbreaker on her way home from school. Apparently, the boy’s initials match those on the watch. The Winters have always believed the boy was responsible for their daughter’s death.”
“How could anyone be responsible for someone else choking on candy?”
“They believe he watched her die and didn’t do anything to help her.”
“What’s his name?”
“Samuel Jones. Most people knew him back then as Sam.”
“SJ loves SW.”
Jared nodded. He stood there watching her for a moment longer. “You’ve done good, Lizzy. Because of you, we’re going to catch the bastard.”
She didn’t respond.
Jared leaned over her and kissed her forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
Chapter 34
Monday, February 22, 2010 2:53 PM
After Jared left, Lizzy locked the door behind him. She was about to do her own research on the name Samuel Jones, when her cell phone rang. “Hello?”
“It’s me, Cathy.”
Lizzy knew her sister wouldn’t call unless it was an emergency. “Is anything wrong?”
“Everything’s fine. I need to ask a favor, Lizzy. I need you to get Brittany from school and take her to an orthodontist appointment. Are you busy?”
“I can get her.”
“Sorry about the late notice, but you’ll need to be at the high school by three thirty.”
Lizzy didn’t bother mentioning the bloodied finger. It would only upset her sister. The truth was Lizzy was glad Cathy was entrusting her to pick up Brittany. Lizzy wanted to see Brittany and make sure she was okay. Lizzy glanced over her shoulder at the clock. It was nearly three. It wouldn’t take her long to get to the school.
“The orthodontist’s office is off of Eureka Road in Roseville. I don’t have the exact street address on me.”
The frustration in Cathy’s voice was palpable. Her sister was frazzled. She was probably confronting Richard. “That’s okay,” Lizzy told her, “I took Brittany for her consultation. I know how to get to McMullen’s office. Don’t worry about a thing.”
Monday, February 22, 2010 3:07 PM
Cathy watched Richard exit the elevator with a gorgeous woman hooked to his arm. His mistress had deep rich hair the color of chocolate. Her almond shaped eyes were also brown; her cheeks high, her mouth plump. She didn’t look a day over twenty-five.
Cathy stepped in front of the adorable couple and poked a finger at Richard’s chest. “You made me hate my own sister. You blamed Lizzy for all of our troubles and all the while you were screwing another woman.”
Richard calmly helped the woman with her coat and told her he’d call her later. The bastard didn’t even try to hide his affair or pretend it wasn’t happening.
The woman appeared unaffected, refusing to look her way. What a bitch.
“You’re a home wrecker,” Cathy shouted at the woman before she could escape the hotel unscathed. “You’re a whore and I’m going to make sure everybody in your life knows it.”
The woman walked across the lobby. Her heels clacked loudly against the marble tiles before she disappeared through the revolving door.
“You won’t tell a soul,” Richard said. “If you slander Valerie in any way, I’ll make sure you don’t have a penny to your name after I leave you.”
Cathy snorted. “I can’t believe I let you ruin my life.”
“You ruined your own life. You’ve never once taken responsibility for your own actions. Even now. Look at yourself. You’ve gained fifty pounds since I met you. Have you ever once gone to the gym or taken a walk? No. You blamed your own daughter for your weight gain. I never cared about the extra pounds. I thought you were beautiful; more of you to love I used to tell you. But when someone tells you over and over that she’s fat, guess what? You start to believe it, and then you even begin to see it.”
“That makes perfect sense coming from someone who doesn’t see a thing. Do you have any clue what’s been going on at home lately?”
“Why don’t you tell me?”
“I bet you didn’t know you were being trailed by a serial killer who hired my sister to follow you and your girlfriend around.”
Richard stood silent.
“Apparently the killer wanted Lizzy to see what you were up to so that when she told me about your affair I would blame Lizzy instead of you. His plan worked perfectly.”
“What are you talking about?”
“If you weren’t spending all of your time screwing Valerie Hunt you might have heard that Frank Lyle isn’t the man who kidnapped Lizzy fourteen years ago. He’s a copycat, a wannabe. The real killer has been getting his kicks out of following you. And because of you, the FBI is afraid the killer might now have his sights on our daughter.”
Richard stepped close. Only inches separated them. His face was a maze of angry lines as he grasped her shoulders and gave her a shake. “This better be some crazy tale you dreamt up because if it’s the truth, Cathy, and you didn’t tell me, you will be dead to me from this moment on.”
She flinched. She was angry, but she wasn’t sure if she was ready to give up on their marriage. Standing here in the lobby, she had visions of Richard falling to his knees and begging for her forgiveness. But this...this hadn’t been part of her plan.
“Tell me you’re making this all up, Cathy. Tell me our daughter isn’t in any danger!”
She wanted to lie, but she couldn’t do it. She might not have been the perfect wife, but she’d never lied to him before.
“Where is she?” he asked, his face pale. “Where’s Brittany?”
“Lizzy is picking her up from school.”
He pulled his cell phone from the clip on his waistband. “I have two missed calls from Brittany.”
“Why would she call you?”
“She only calls me,” he replied, “when she can’t get a hold of you.”
Overwhelming fear set in as Cathy shuffled through the contents of her purse before recalling that her phone was in her car. She looked at Richard. “Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
He didn’t move, not even a twitch of a muscle.
They both knew exactly what he’d been doing when his daughter called. At that moment his face changed before her eyes. Nothing about Richard resembled the handsome young man she’d married fifteen years ago. She didn’t want him to beg for her forgiveness. She didn’t want him at all.
Monday, February 22, 2010 3:25 PM
Lizzy waited in the long line of cars moving at a snail’s pace into the school parking lot. Seeing all of the kids running around brought her back to the days when she and Jared would meet at the quad for lunch. They had lots of friends back then and they had a lot of fun, too.
She and Jared had a strong connection from the start. Her father, of course, hadn’t liked the idea of Lizzy dating an older boy, and he’d been glad to see Jared go off to college, always reminding Lizzy that there were lots of fish in the sea. But from the moment they met, Lizzy never wanted anyone else. Jared was special. He was caring and compassionate. He deserved more than she could ever give him. He de
served to be happy.
She tapped her fingers against the steering wheel as she scanned the parking area. She pulled her car into a parking space, and then called Brittany’s cell. After three rings, Brittany’s voicemail came on.
“This is Brittany Warner. Please leave a message and I’ll get back to you.”
“This is your Aunt Lizzy. I don’t know if your mom told you, but I’m picking you up today. I’m at the school now.” Lizzy looked at her watch. Three thirty-one. The kids got out of class six minutes ago. She couldn’t have missed her. “I’ll wait for you by the bear statue at the front of the school.”
Five minutes later she called Brittany’s number again. “Where are you, kiddo? And why aren’t you answering your phone?” She looked at the time. “I have to get you to your orthodontist appointment in ten minutes. Call me back.”
She clicked the phone shut and tried not to panic. She’s okay. She’s with her friends. Teenagers are notorious for being late.
She attempted to relax her shoulders as she looked about the parking lot. She wasn’t ready to think about what was inside the box delivered to Dr. Gates’ office. Hayley, she whispered before sucking in a breath. She couldn’t go there right now. She couldn’t handle that. Linda Gates was okay. That was something to think about. Linda had been in her life for fourteen years. Linda was the person who had helped her to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Linda was okay. But what about Hayley?
At the sound of laughter, Lizzy had had enough. She got out of the car and walked at a brisk pace toward the gym.
“Can I help you?” a woman asked.
“I’m looking for my niece, Brittany Warner.”
“She’s not on the team, but you might want to check the front office to see if she’s waiting for you there.”
“Good idea.” Lizzy thanked her before leaving. After checking the front office and finding it empty, Lizzy ran from building to building and room to room. Brittany was nowhere to be found. Every muscle grew taut as full-fledged panic set in. She questioned anyone and everyone still wandering the halls. Inside her car again, she called Cathy’s cell and left a message. Next, she left a third message on Brittany’s phone and then she called Jared. He picked up on the first ring.
“Thank God,” she said.
“What’s going on?”
“Cathy called after you left the apartment. She needed me to pick up Brittany at school. I’ve been here for at least twenty minutes and she’s not here. I can’t find her anywhere. What am I going to do?”
“Stay calm, Lizzy. Take a deep breath. Were you supposed to take her home after school?”
“No. Cathy asked me to take Brittany to her orthodontist appointment. It’s scheduled for 3:45. Five minutes ago.”
“Do you think Brittany could have gotten a ride to the orthodontist?”
“I don’t know; I just don’t know.”
“Lizzy,” he said, his voice firm. “Whatever you do, don’t panic. It’ll only make things worse.”
Her hands were shaking. She couldn’t breathe.
“Do you want me to call the dentist’s office?”
Lizzy inhaled, and then exhaled. “The office is five minutes away. I’m going there now,” she said as she rushed toward the parking area. “Do me a favor and keep your phone close.”
“Will do. Call me when you find her.”
Lizzy ran across the parking lot. Breathe, Lizzy, breathe. She jumped into her car, started the engine, and drove off. Who would Brittany accept a ride from? There was no conceivable way Brittany would have climbed into a car with a stranger. She’d taught her niece better than that. Brittany knew what to do if a stranger approached her. Maybe a friend had offered her a ride. Maybe she’d forgotten about her appointment.
Lizzy shot through a yellow light before she forced herself to slow to a steady forty miles per hour. Her hands shook as she made a right turn and then another. Moments later, she pulled into the handicapped spot in front of the orthodontist office and jumped out of the car. She pushed through the door.
The woman at the front desk smiled. “How can I help you?”
“I’m Brittany Warner’s aunt. Is she here by any chance?”
“We haven’t seen her. Diane was just asking about Brittany.”
“Is the doctor in?”
“Dr. McMullen works three days a week in this office and two days a week in the Auburn office. Diane Givens fills in when he’s not here. She’s in the back.”
Lizzy walked into the main room where Dr. Givens was treating a patient. Lizzy wanted to see for herself whether Brittany was there or not. The receptionist followed her around with a worried expression on her face, then walked Lizzy to the exit and followed her outside. The woman pointed to the other side of the parking lot. “See that coffee shop over there?”
Lizzy nodded.
“A lot of kids from the school like to hang out there. You might want to check—”
Lizzy didn’t give her a chance to finish. She jogged across the parking lot. The cold air turned her nose to ice. She pushed through the door to the coffee shop, overwhelmed with relief when she spotted a brown-haired girl sitting at a booth with two teen-aged boys. “Brittany,” she said, tapping the girl on the shoulder. “You almost gave me a heart—”
Brittany turned about, a frown on her face. Only it wasn’t Brittany at all. Lizzy maneuvered around the table for a better look. “I’m sorry. I thought you were my niece. Do any of you know Brittany Warner?”
They all shook their heads. Clearly, they thought she’d lost her mind. With her bruised forehead and exhausted state, she knew she looked a wreck, but she didn’t care. She had to find Brittany. She checked every table in the coffee shop, talked to the manager, and then checked the restroom before heading back to the doctor’s office. Her body was shutting down. Her head throbbed, every thought jumbled. Her knees wobbled. Don’t stop now, Lizzy. Stay calm.
Images of a man in a mask flashed before her, his eyes cold, his voice robotic. Everything that had happened this past week had been leading to this very moment. She saw that now. Déjà vu.
“Brittany wasn’t at the coffee shop,” Lizzy told the woman who had helped her only moments before.
“Your sister just called. She wants you to wait for her. She’s on her way here now.”
Lizzy nodded. “I’ll be outside if you hear anything.” A squeal and a whine sounded in the other room. Lizzy stopped and listened. “What’s that noise?”
The woman appeared wary of her, but she answered just the same. “It’s a high speed drill the doctors use for orthodontic implant pilots.”
Lizzy listened for a moment longer.
“They’re used when the doctor needs a good anchor to attach a wire or a spring.”
The drilling only lasted a few seconds but the noise set Lizzy’s teeth on edge. Her head was throbbing. Lizzy managed a “thanks” and then went outside to wait for Cathy. She plopped down on the curb and stared at her cell phone, willing it to ring.
Monday, February 22, 2010 4:11 PM
By the time Lizzy hung up the phone after updating Jared, Cathy pulled up to the curb. Lizzy climbed into the passenger seat.
“What happened to your forehead?”
“It’s a long story,” Lizzy said. “Let’s get to the house and find Brittany.”
Cathy pulled out of the parking lot and merged onto the main road. “She’s not answering her phone,” Cathy said. “Brittany always answers her phone.”
“Jared is going to meet us at your house.”
“It’s him, isn’t it? Spiderman. He has her, doesn’t he?”
Lizzy couldn’t think. Her mind was a big fat blank. He couldn’t have Brittany. That statement did not compute.
“This is my fault,” Cathy said as she stepped on the gas.
“No. This is not your fault,” Lizzy said, her voice raised. “This is nobody’s fault, dammit.”
Cathy’s fingers white-knuckled the steering wheel. “I never s
hould have let her out of my sight. I should have moved in with Dad. I should have listened to you. You were right about Richard, too. After I received a call telling me where I could find Richard and his mistress, I drove to the Hyatt and I waited for them. Sure enough, Richard came out of the elevator with that woman on his arm.”
Lizzy’s pulse quickened. “Who called you?”
The light turned red, but Cathy didn’t notice right away. She slammed on the brakes. Tires squealed and Cathy’s head jerked forward.
Lizzy’s hands stopped her body from slamming into the front console. Once the car came to a stop, Cathy looked at Lizzy. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Do you want me to drive?”
“No. We’re almost there.” The light turned green. Cathy pushed down hard on the accelerator.
Lizzy tightened her seatbelt.
“Who do you think called me?” Cathy asked.
“The same man who hired me to follow Valerie Hunt. He wanted to get you out of the house and out of your usual routine.”
Cathy sped up.
“Slow down. We won’t be able to help Brittany if we’re in the hospital.”
Cathy slowed but not nearly as much as Lizzy would have liked. Trees and houses swept by in a blur.
“What if he has her, Lizzy? What will we do?”
“She’ll be home,” Lizzy told her. “She has to be at home.”
Cathy made a sharp right at the stop sign. She sped down the residential street, finally slowing when she spotted a child throwing a ball to a dog. She pulled the car into the driveway and came to a screeching halt. Cathy shot out of the car and made her way to the house before Lizzy could unbuckle her seatbelt.
Lizzy climbed out and took a look around. The air was crisp, colder than usual. Smoke spiraled from more than one chimney in the neighborhood. The government issued sedan was parked across the street. She wanted to talk to the agent, ask him if he’d seen anybody at the house. Ronald Holt sat in the front seat reading a newspaper.
